Syrian Refugees in Lebanon Surpass One Million

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Lauren Fisher

Beirut/Geneva--April 3, 2014 – The number of refugees fleeing from Syria into neighboring Lebanon surpassed 1 million today, a devastating milestone worsened by rapidly depleting resources and a host community stretched to the breaking point.

Three years after Syria’s conflict began, Lebanon has become the country with the highest per-capita concentration of refugees worldwide, struggling to keep pace with a crisis that shows no signs of slowing.

"On this day, as we announce the registration of the one millionth refugee in Lebanon, we send both the Arab and international communities one million pleas for support,” said the Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs, Mr. Rachid Derbas. “This is an occasion to launch a humanitarian and political call under the title: “Lebanon should not be left alone”.

“Lebanon is a small and densely populated country that is now hosting the highest number of refugees in the region,” added Derbas. “We call on the Arab and international communities to share this unprecedented burden with Lebanon; before this explosive situation takes on global proportions.”

Refugees from Syria now equal one-quarter of the resident population, with over 220 Syrian refugees for every 1,000 Lebanese residents.

“The influx of a million refugees would be massive in any country. For Lebanon, a small nation beset by internal difficulties, the impact is staggering,” said António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees. “The Lebanese people have shown striking generosity, but are struggling to cope. Lebanon hosts the highest concentration of refugees in recent history. We cannot let it shoulder this burden alone.”

The influx is accelerating. In April 2012, there were 18,000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon; by April 2013, there were 356,000. Now, just two years later, there are 1 million. Every day, UNHCR in Lebanon registers 2,500 new refugees: more than one person a minute.

The impact on Lebanon has been immense. The country has experienced serious economic shocks due to the conflict in Syria, including a decline in trade, tourism and investment and an increase in public expenditures. Public services are struggling to meet increased demand, with health, education, electricity, and water and sanitation particularly taxed.

The World Bank estimates that the Syria crisis cost Lebanon US$2.5 billion in lost economic activity during 2013 and threatens to push 170,000 Lebanese into poverty by the end of this year. Wages are plummeting, and families are struggling to make ends meet.

Children make up half the Syrian refugee population in Lebanon. The number of school-aged Syrian children is now over 400,000, eclipsing the number of Lebanese children in public schools. These schools have opened their doors to over 100,000 refugees, yet the ability to accept more is severely limited.

Local communities feel the strain of the influx of refugees most directly, with many towns and villages now having more refugees than Lebanese. Across the country, critical infrastructure is stretched to its limits, affecting refugees and Lebanese alike. Sanitation and waste management have been severely weakened, clinics and hospitals are overstretched, and water supplies depleted. Wages are falling due to increase labor supply. There is growing recognition that Lebanon needs long-term development support to weather the crisis.

“International support to government institutions and local communities is at a level that, although slowly increasing, is totally out of proportion with what is needed,” Mr. Guterres said. “Support to Lebanon is not only a moral imperative, but it is also badly needed to stop the further erosion of peace and security in this fragile society, and indeed the whole region.”

"This refugee crisis is consuming a big share of the State’s resources and capacities, especially when it comes to security, education, health care, the housing market, and the economy as a whole,” added Minister Derbas. “A study conducted by the Lebanese Government concluded that the crisis has, until now, resulted in more than US$7.5 billion in economic losses. We depend on the international community to enable the Lebanese community to keep supporting Syrian refugees.”

And while the scale of the humanitarian emergency expands, and the serious consequences to Lebanon mount, the humanitarian appeal for Lebanon is only 13 percent funded.

Aid agencies struggle to prioritize equally compelling needs and target assistance first and foremost to the most vulnerable of a needy population. Limited humanitarian funding coupled with a steady erosion of refugees own reserves can have dire consequences. A growing number of refugees are unable to afford or to find suitable accommodations and are resorting to insecure dwellings such as tents, garages and animal sheds. Health assistance is urgently needed for 80,000 refugees. More than 650,000 receive monthly food aid to survive.

The vast majority of children are out of school. Many of the children work and girls can be married young. The prospect of a better future recedes the longer they remain out of school.

“The Syrian children of today will be the shapers of Syria tomorrow,” said Ninette Kelley, representative of the United Nations Refugee Agency in Lebanon. "We must ensure they have the skills to meet the vast challenges they are now consigned to confront in years to come.”

The Government of Lebanon, the United Nations and partner agencies have mounted an unprecedented response, targeting both refugees and Lebanese host communities. Late last year, they jointly appealed for US$1.89 billion for 2014. Only US$242 million has been received so far.

“Lebanese communities are increasingly hard-pressed, and tensions are rising,” said Kelley. “Yet relocation spaces to wealthier third countries remain limited, and the appeal remains woefully underfunded. Morality and pragmatism demand we do more.”